National Tinnitus awareness week, 19th-25th February 2007
What is Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is a sound in one ear or both ears, such as buzzing, ringing, or whistling,
occurring without an external stimulus and usually caused by a specific condition, such
as an ear infection, hearing damage, the use of certain drugs, a blocked auditory tube
or canal, or a head injury.
What causes Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is not a disease or an illness, it is a symptom generated within a person's
own auditory pathways. Although it is often assumed that tinnitus occurs as a result of
disease of the ears, this is often not the cause. The precise cause of tinnitus is still
not fully understood but is usually associated with some hearing deficits.
Who gets Tinnitus?
Tinnitus is very common in all age groups, especially following exposure to loud noise;
however, it is unusual for it to be a major problem. There is a widely held misconception
that tinnitus is confined to the elderly, but various studies have shown that it can occur
at any age. Mild tinnitus is common - about 10 per cent of the population have it all the
time and, in up to one per cent of adults, this may affect the quality of their life.
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